Effects of abdominal decompression on cardiopulmonary function and visceral perfusion in patients with intra-abdominal hypertension.

Objective: Increased intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) compromises cardiopulmonary function and visceral perfusion. Our goal was to characterize acute changes in these subsystems associated with operative abdominal decompression.

Patient Population: A series of 11 consecutive injured patients monitored with a pulmonary artery catheter and nasogastric tonometer in whom operative decompression was performed.

A controlled subatmospheric pressure dressing increases the rate of skin graft donor site reepithelialization.

The ability to increase the rate of skin graft donor site reepithelialization significantly in a cost-effective manner has important implications for the patient undergoing major reconstructive procedures. In this study the effect of externally applied reduced pressure (the V.A.